Miniature cattle
Breeds or lines of cattle that stand under about a metre at the withers when grown.
Also: mini cattle, dwarf cattle, small cattle
Miniature cattle are much smaller than ordinary breeds, usually under about a metre at the withers. Some are old small breeds from hard country: the Vechur of Kerala and the Punganur of Andhra Pradesh, among the smallest cattle anywhere, and the Dexter of Ireland. Others, such as the miniature Herefords and miniature zebu kept in North America, were bred down from larger stock or imported small types. Small cattle need less feed and land and are easier to handle, which suits smallholders and hobby farmers. Several native miniatures were close to vanishing a few decades ago and have been kept going by dedicated breeders and research herds.